Wind Energy Potential Measured in Colorado

Denver, Colorado [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] A 50-meter wind anemometer tower was raised in Huerfano County, Colorado, as part of the Colorado Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) continuing efforts to examine the feasibility of wind energy and the San Isabel Electric Association (SIEA).

This site was selected because earlier data on a 30-meter SIEA tower demonstrated exemplary wind resources. It averages 17.3 mph, represents a class 5 wind resource, and is considered excellent according to industry wind classification ratings. OEMC will loan the 50-meter anemometer tower to SIEA and provide an analysis of the collected wind data, free of charge, as it does for other anemometers used by its loan program partners. The tower is the first of its kind to be used in the region. The tower has anemometers at 30, 40 and 50 meters and will gather data measurements where a wind turbine hub would be if the site is deemed suitable for a future wind farm. It will remain on site for a minimum of six months and up to one year. “We hope that the data collected from this 50-meter tower shows that this region may be another wind energy resource,” said Drew Bolin, OEMC Director. OEMC has eight 20-meter anemometers, which it loans through its Anemometer Loan Program. This loan program was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Central Regional Office with the goal to assist Coloradans in evaluating wind energy by providing measurement equipment and analysis.